720132Precision investment casting process based on microwave technology - Process Technology (Europe) LtdClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKProcess Technology (Europe) Ltd has a new process “Microwax process” for the Investment Casting industry that replaces a high energy(150kW) and time dependant manufacturing processes by using microwave energy(24kW) in a totally innovative manner. Successful microwave energy laboratory trials have been carried out to prove the concept. The aim of the project is to develop a pre-production demonstrator to prove the technical and commercial viability of this technology. This invention was described as “re-writing the casting industry” by internationally recognisedindustry expert Prof. Stuart Blackburn Head of the IRC at the Centre of Excellence at theUniversity of Birmingham. The technology can be applied to all lost wax processes, Art foundries, and ceramic cores. The major Precision Investment Casting manufacturers are predominately for the aerospace, defence, automotive, nuclear, medical and commercial casting industries. This process could be used in every investment casting plant world wide and would offer substantial savings on capital costs, energy, and process time. Process costs could be reduced by 40%, CO2 emissions lowered by 80%, 75% less energy used and 75% less process time required. The new process is protected by GB, European and World patents. The de-waxing microwave method is only required to be used as and when required so there will not be a requirement to permanently maintain high pressure at 200C temperature. The advantages of the innovation are that it allows de-waxing the shell in a microwave oven by adding dielectric material at controlled varied percentages into the wax that allows controlled staged melting out of the wax, without cracking the shell. This eliminates the need a high energy and time dependant autoclave in this process. Since purchasing a 24KW microwave oven this has led to improvements in excess of >80% les process time in sectors covering food, potteries, block casting, wood treatment and specialist protective film drying and many others.